Jasmine Tours Opens a New Canteen at Ngam La School in Yen Minh

1. Ngam La School in Ha Giang: A Quiet Strength in the Mountains

Ngam La is a remote and humble commune nestled in the misty hills of Yen Minh, Ha Giang. It is a place where time slows down and life is shaped by the rhythm of the earth. Here, children rise with the sun and often walk several hours across rugged mountain paths just to reach their classroom. With no shoes, no breakfast, and sometimes no winter coat, they carry only one thing consistently: a desire to learn.

Most families in Ngam La rely on seasonal farming. Education is a luxury many cannot afford, yet the children come anyway. Classrooms are bare. There are no dining halls. Lunchtime means sitting on cold ground, eating whatever they can carry from home. Often it is just rice, sometimes with salt. But even so, their eyes shine brightly. Their dreams are alive. And their laughter echoes through the valleys, unwavering.

Their courage moved us deeply. And so, with humility and a sense of duty, we chose Ngam La as the place to begin something meaningful.

2. A Simple Structure That Holds a World of Meaning

The canteen at Ngam La School is not grand in scale, but it carries great emotional weight. It was designed to be safe, clean, and filled with light, a space where students could sit comfortably, enjoy meals together, and feel like they truly belong. Previously, lunchtime for many of these children meant eating quickly on concrete floors or in muddy schoolyards, often without proper nutrition. We wanted to change that.

By offering a warm space with proper seating, Jasmine Tours sought to give more than a meal. We wanted to give the children of Ngam La a place to gather, rest, and bond, a place where they are reminded that someone cares. In the highlands, where isolation is a daily reality and access to even the simplest infrastructure can take years, a project like this can mean the world.

As the children entered the canteen for the first time, their eyes sparkled with joy and wonder. The bright banners hanging from the ceiling, the clinking of metal spoons, the sound of shared laughter, it was all proof that the space was already becoming something special. Teachers shared with us that this small building had already brought new energy to the school. Children were showing up more excited for class. Meals had turned into moments of community.

3. A Meal Cooked with Love and Shared in Unity

To celebrate the opening of the canteen, we organized a special lunch for over 200 children. Our team arrived in the early morning to prepare the meal, working together as one unit, not as roles or titles, but as one family. On the menu were local delicacies familiar to the children, made with fresh ingredients sourced from nearby farms: warm rice, tender pork, sautéed vegetables, sweet seasonal fruits. It was a simple yet hearty meal, rich with flavor and made with love.

For our team, the act of cooking and serving became an emotional experience. As we handed bowls to each child, heard their thank yous, and watched them share laughs with friends, we were reminded that nourishment is not only physical. It is emotional and deeply human. These moments of connection, eye contact, shared stories, a second helping of rice, filled our hearts in ways words cannot fully capture.

The atmosphere was one of celebration, but also deep reflection. We had come to offer something, but in truth, we received even more. The kindness in the children’s eyes, the pride in the teachers’ voices, the gratitude in the community, all reminded us that giving does not empty us, it fills us.

4. The Little Boy and the Pink Slippers

Later that day, just as the sun began to sink behind the mountains, one of our team members noticed a young boy lingering quietly near the gate. He was barefoot and looking around anxiously. When we approached gently and asked what was wrong, he shared a story that broke our hearts.

That morning, he had walked for five hours from his home to attend school and take part in the celebration. But now, as the day came to an end, he could not find his slippers. Someone had taken them by mistake, and he had no other shoes to wear for the long journey back home.

We searched through our supplies and eventually found a pair of pink slippers. They were a little worn and a little small, but they were something. We knelt beside him and offered them with care. He looked at the slippers, then looked at us. He said nothing. He simply slipped them on and gave us the most beautiful, quiet smile.

We will never forget that moment. It reminded us that sometimes, kindness arrives in the smallest of ways. And that even a pair of pink slippers can carry a child’s hope.

5. Built from Within: Powered by People Who Care

This canteen was not funded by a single grand gesture. It was built little by little, with sincerity. Jasmine Tours set aside part of each tour’s earnings, and our staff gave what they could, including time, resources, and effort. Some skipped a weekend coffee to pitch in. Others offered their skills. It became a shared mission, an unspoken agreement that we could all do something, no matter how small, to make life a little better for others.

What makes it even more powerful is that our guests, you, are at the heart of it. Every time you chose to travel with Jasmine Tours, you contributed to this dream. Whether you rode through Ma Pi Leng on a motorbike or explored the Loop in one of our Jeeps, a small part of your adventure helped feed a child. You may not have met them, but they felt your presence in every bite they took that day.

This is what community tourism means to us. It is not just about sightseeing. It is about using travel as a force for good, to support livelihoods, protect traditions, and build spaces where life can grow.

6. Looking Ahead with Gratitude and Hope

From the bottom of our hearts, we want to say thank you.

To our travelers: your decision to explore Ha Giang with Jasmine Tours means more than you might know. You brought more than revenue, you brought possibility. Your journey through these rugged landscapes now holds deeper meaning. It gave meals, built walls, and sparked hope. You helped make the canteen a reality, and for that, we are endlessly grateful.

To our Jasmine team: words fall short in capturing our pride. You worked tirelessly to make this happen, from organizing logistics and sourcing food to washing pots and decorating the space. Your compassion was visible in every detail, and your quiet commitment will echo through the lives of the children we met that day.

Looking forward, this is only the beginning. Jasmine Tours is now more determined than ever to expand these efforts. We dream of building more canteens and schools across Ha Giang, so that children in even the most remote corners have the chance to learn, grow, and thrive. And with the continued love and trust of our community, we believe that the future is within reach.

Thank you for being a part of this journey, not only through roads and rivers, but through hearts and hopes as well.

Contact Information of Jasmine Tours:

• Website: Jasmine Tours Official Website

• Email: support@jasminehagiang.com

• Hotline & WhatsApp (8am - 10pm):

  • +(84) 375 299 476

  • +(84) 974 205 994

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• Office Address: Jasmine Tours Office, No. 22, Phat Loc Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

• Addresses:

  • Jasmine Hostel, No. 61 Cau Me Street, Phuong Thien

  • Jasmine Retreat (Jasmine Hostel 2), Hoa Bac, Thuan Hoa Commune